Adventure Holidays in South America

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Tours in South America

With lost cities, rainbow mountains, salt plains and extraordinary wildlife, holidays in South America are imbued with a magic all of their own. From the Caribbean coast of Colombia to the glacial fjords of Patagonia, South America’s epic canvas takes in a riotous mix of culture and outstanding adventure trails.

There’s trekking in Chile; bird-watching in Guyana and the Galápagos; world-class heritage sites, such as Machu Picchu peaking through the cloud forest in Peru... and then there’s the Amazon. Exploring the biggest and most diverse ecosystem in the world is the stuff that holiday legends are made of. Add in Argentina’s deliciously smokey red wine and plate-sized steaks, and a South America tour has all the ingredients for an adventure holiday like no other.

Activities in South America

Top four South America adventures

1. The Rainbow Mountains of Ausangate, Peru: This off-the-beaten-track region offers travellers the only lodge-based trek in Peru; the local Andean communities are lodge shareholders, meaning they benefit directly from tourist stays. Peru’s Cordillera Vilcanota is home to the spectacular rainbow mountains, with multicoloured stripes of rock, and the sacred mountain of Ausangate – deeply revered among the Andean communities.

2. The Lost City of Choquequirao, Peru: This is a chance to visit an incredible Inca fortress, without the crowds. Characterised by llama-decorated terraces and surrounded by the towering snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Vilcabamba, it's one of the largest and best-preserved Inca sites after Machu Picchu, but much less well known.

3. Trekking Highlights of Chile: Experience the contrasts of Chile while walking on volcanic slopes, over salt lakes and along glacial valley trails. Get away from the crowds in the Atacama Desert by trekking amid the natural springs and cacti of Guatin Valley.

4. The Avenue of the Volcano, Ecuador: For a country about the size of England, Ecuador manages to pack a mighty punch. This eye-opening trip delves into its fiery heart: the glacial peaks of its Andean volcanoes. It’s a challenging week, but if you’ve the stamina, Ecuador's got the views. And when the rewards include reviving hot-spring baths, reaching crater lakes seems all the sweeter.

This was our second Exodus trip as a family of four, all adults of course. The trip had a bumpy...

Where adventure begins

Exodus began life in 1974, when two friends got together to provide an overland truck to western Afghanistan's Minaret of Jam – the most inaccessible of the world’s great monuments. It was the hippy-trail heyday and the journey from Calais to Kathmandu departed from London in autumn, returning in spring. Soon we were also travelling to South Africa, and taking hardy adventurers to the Amazon Basin as well.